Allexer Namundjembo
The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) will again pay a South African company, Uniprint Global, N$4.9 million to print ballot papers for the upcoming regional and local authorities elections.
This comes after no local companies made it to the final bidding stage. The elections are scheduled for 26 November 2025.
During the bidding process, ECN said seven local and five international companies purchased bid documents, but only four international companies submitted final bids.
The bids ranged between N$4.9 million and N$8.3 million, including delivery costs. The open international bidding process started on 16 June and closed on 28 July 2025.
After evaluation, the ECN awarded the contract to Uniprint Global at N$4.89 million.
The ECN said it is in the final stages of procuring ballot papers.
ECN chief executive officer Peter Shaama said on Tuesday that Uniprint will print over 1.81 million ballot papers for the regional council elections and 912 700 for the local authority elections.
He said the printing will take place at Uniprint’s factory in Johannesburg from 22 to 31 October 2025.
Shaama said the ballot papers are expected to arrive in Namibia via Hosea Kutako International Airport between 1 and 2 November.
“As part of our commitment to uphold the highest standards in the electoral process, we provide regular updates to stakeholders and members of the public on the procurement of all election materials, including ballot papers,” said Shaama.
In 2020, ECN also paid the Durban-based company Uniprint N$1.9 million to print ballot papers for the regional council and local authority elections. At the time, four companies were shortlisted for the bid: Solitaire Press, Schoemans Technology, and the South African firms Ren-Form CC and Uniprint.
Ren-Form CC had printed ballot papers for Namibia during the 2010 regional council and local authority elections.
That year, the ECN stated that it had selected Uniprint because the company met all technical requirements after a competitive public procurement process.
Uniprint had printed ballot papers for electoral management bodies in several Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries, including Botswana, Tanzania, Zambia, Zanzibar, Lesotho, South Africa, and Mozambique.
The company was owned by the Tiso Blackstar Group, a South African media company.
Shaama said the ECN has put in place strict measures to ensure the quality and security of ballot papers.
He said ECN remains committed to ensuring ‘free, fair, transparent and credible elections’.
“Over the years, the commission has established stringent criteria to ensure the quality and security of ballot papers. These include specifications for paper quality, printing security features, and adherence to international best practices to prevent electoral fraud,” he said.
Shaama said ECN also briefed stakeholders on the process.
On 3 July 2025, the political party liaison committee was informed about the start of bidding. Further updates were given on 3 September and 14 October on progress and logistics.
“Unlike last year, where the Commission covered travel, accommodation, and meals for members observing the production process, this year all contestants wishing to observe will do so at their own cost. This ensures transparency while maintaining efficiency,” Shaama said.
The total budget for printing ballot papers was set at N$8.9 million, but Uniprint secured the contract below budget, which the ECN said demonstrates cost-effective procurement.
Source: https://www.observer24.com.na/ecn-gives-ballot-printing-tender-to-sa-company-again/
.
